Ram has rolled out the new HD trucks and they are the first to hit 1000 ft lbs. Im sure this will quickly devolve into rants about how trucks are too big/expensive/brodozer/etc, but it is an amazing time we live in when you can get a warranty on that sort of grunt!
They are also making the 6.4 gasser the standard engine. We have that in our 15 and have been very happy with it.
All is well I suppose but I feel like I’m starting to see a trend among those who’ve purchased diesel HD PU’s in the past. That trend is a decision to go with the gasser in the latest iterations. Seems the current crop of gas engines paired with some super marvelous transmissions are about 99% the capability of the diesels minus the complexity minus the cost. Gas is cheap now and diesels haven’t gotten good mileage since the early oughts.
Perhaps though a few threads on Pirate 4x4 does not constitute a trend. It does make sense though.
In reply to A 401 CJ :
For your average buyer, that uses the truck as a commuter, and spends the vast majority of the time skipping between stoplights without any payload that's probably true. That duty cycle doesn't play well with modern diesels, and can lead to headaches and costly repairs. But if you use the truck for truck things all the time then diesel can still make sense.
What's crazier to me than the torque rating is the tow rating. Towing over 35k lbs is insane for a pickup truck that anybody can buy.
STM317 said:What's crazier to me than the torque rating is the tow rating. Towing over 35k lbs is insane for a pickup truck that anybody can buy.
The sales people really need to remind buyers that 35k is well up into Class A drivers license territory. If you buy this truck and then buy a monster of a trailer, John Law is going to want to review your drivers license privileges beside the road somewhere I promise.
Chief engineers would only let the company push the old 6.7 to around 750-800 ft-lb in 2010ish due to reliability/warranty concerns.. despite what the aftermarket was doing.
I was talking about using them for truck things. And my point was that these new gassers are just plain bad ass when paired with the transmissions they offer.
OTOH, in the ‘70’s my dad trucked across the country in a cabover Peterbilt. Probably not quite 80,000# then but close to it. He ran the ubiquitous 8V-71 “Jimmy”. The torque? 8XX.
Granted, that Jimmy could hit that number all day every day, something I’d be amazed if the 6.7 could do, but still...yes this Dodge PU has more grunt than a ‘70’s Peterbilt.
I’ve never been in a situation where I thought i needed more than 800, but i’ve been in plenty going up mountains with the big trailer that i was happy I didn’t go for the gas engine.
They also did away with the manual transmission....
I'm just as impressed with the twin alternators, tons of usb and 110V outlets, cameras for all the views including a trailer harness which will connect to a camera on the back of the trailer so you can see behind you and tire pressure sensors that will read the truck as well as up to 12 tires on the trailer. If I hauled stuff for money, all of that would be nice.
Jpbrienp said:They also did away with the manual transmission....
Not enough people bought them. The manual had a lower output engine. The dealer I bought my truck from a few years ago had one that sat and sat looking for a buyer.
Wow, my old 12v had 420 ft/lb and I was always impressed by how well it pulled!
Patrick said:I’ve never been in a situation where I thought i needed more than 800, but i’ve been in plenty going up mountains with the big trailer that i was happy I didn’t go for the gas engine.
If you only had 600 you might not think you needed 800 until you had it! 
pinchvalve said:Wow, my old 12v had 420 ft/lb and I was always impressed by how well it pulled!
Its amazing what we used to pull with torque in the mid 200s out of a straight 6 gasser in the olden days. Granted we weren't able to climb mountains at 85mph!
We really are in a golden age of engine output!
My question is how do you stop 35000 lbs with it? I've never had cause to tow anything heavier than a car trailer but even then stopping everything was more frequently a concern to me than getting it all moving.
Ooooof thats some serious tourqe! I am very impressed with the power they pull out of these things
In reply to dclafleur :
The trailer should* be equipped with appropriate sized and functioning brakes to help slow down.
*I know WAAAAY too many people who consider trailer brakes more of a suggestion than a requirement. I saw my uncle smoke front brakes on more than one occasion hauling round bales. But I am one of those wierdos that pops apart the axles on both our trailers for scheduled maintenance.
dclafleur said:My question is how do you stop 35000 lbs with it? I've never had cause to tow anything heavier than a car trailer but even then stopping everything was more frequently a concern to me than getting it all moving.
It's got big brakes, but anything of even car trailer size will have its own brakes, so stopping isn't really all that much of an issue. Plus, anything weighing 35k lbs is going to be a gooseneck or 5th wheel setup, not a bumper pull, so stability under hard braking is a bit less of a concern (and it gives more of its weight to the truck, so the truck can do more of the braking).
I had a mail contract and for two years I hauled 80000 pounds over two BC mountain ranges with a Volvo with a 300 hp Cat with 860 pounds of torque. That would have been around 1995 or so. My last Dodge Ram had more torque and 350 hp and I was blown away then at how far pickups have come. But then again these new ones cost as much as a mid 90's semi as well. I expect 90 per cent of them will never be used to even part of their actual capacity.
What's with the pornostache on the grille?
I predict that a proper exhaust valve style engine brake or a driveline retarder will be the next incentive to part customers from $130,000.00 financed biweekly over 10 years.
Since ford seems to be struggling still to find a diesel as good as the old navistar 7.3, chevy is still there with the duramax being ignored by most, i guess we’ll be seeing more dodge/cummins bro-dozers. yay. More huge diesel trucks driven by rich kids who think they are driving a sports car. Also the bro-dozer crowd usually does not even own a trailer or anything to go on a trailer. They are just huge obnoxious daily drivers.
logdog said:Jpbrienp said:They also did away with the manual transmission....
Not enough people bought them. The manual had a lower output engine. The dealer I bought my truck from a few years ago had one that sat and sat looking for a buyer.
My 2010 Cummins is a stick. It was the only one on the lot when I bought it new, IIRC. It was in for service recently and the service advisor was surprised to see it. And yes, even then it was limited to only 600 lbs while the auto had 650. I'm surprised the manuals stuck around this long.
I chose the stick because I didn't like the way the autos shifted and I was concerned about transmission durability. On the highway, the manual does great. Around town, an auto would be preferable just because I occasionally have to abuse the clutch more than I'd like. It's worth noting that if it was a 3500 with a higher load rating, I'd have to get a permit to tow through AZ.
At least with the 6.7s, it's worth looking at dyno charts. The higher peak numbers are clearly just more boosts, so they're stronger up top but the shape of the curve is changing. Mine has never suffered from an inability to do a particular job due to a weedy engine, but who doesn't want more power? Yes, I said power and not torque.
For those that say trucks are expensive - I paid about $42k for mine. According to KBB, it's now worth about $34k. That's some decent resale.
This is GRM. Stop with the Jalopnik-style brodozer comments or commuting comments. We're better than that. People do indeed use trucks for work. My truck has about 75k on it now, and 80% of that has been with a loaded two-car trailer on the back. Right now, it only has a single car trailer hooked up so it's just loafing around as I do a house remodel.
Grizz said:
What's with the pornostache on the grille?
RAM Jeremy.
I see people using lettered Rams with three cars on a gooseneck all the time. But I'm spitting distance from i95 when I see them.
They're probably cheaper and now more capable than 90% of what used to get used as car haulers. Hell reading through the options in that article they're better equipped inside than some houses.
Keith Tanner said:
Yes, I said power and not torque.
Thank you.
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